“Guyana means business’, is the mantra of the Ministry of Business. But according to Minister with responsibility for that Ministry, Mr. Dominic Gaskin, “When business interests clash with the fundamental and universal rights of the most vulnerable persons on the planet, we expect these rights to prevail.”From left: Simon Chorley, UNICEF Canada; Marianne Flach, UNICEF Representative; Pierre Giroux, High Commissioner of Canada; Dominic Gaskin, Minister of Business and Aleema Nasir, Chairperson RCCThe Minister’s remarks were forthcoming yesterday as he delivered the feature address at the opening of a UNICEF spearheaded Children’s Rights and Business conference at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown.The conference, which was aimed at examining ‘child rights in the extractive sector’, saw the Minister stressing that while the private sector continues to expand in both size and influence it will inevitably impact on the lives of children.But according to him, the resulting impact should be positive. “Businesses bring investments, employment, opportunities and new services to communities and this is what we wish to promote at the Ministry of Business,” Gaskin asserted.He however acknowledged that “there is a darker side to certain businesses which we cannot pretend does not exist. This is definitely what we do not wish to promote.”“When we say ‘Guyana means business’ we envisage lawful and wholesome businesses which can make valuable contributions to economic growth and development of our country and our communities,” stated the Business Minister.He highlighted the need to recognise the harmful effects of business activities and endeavour at all times to minimise these through measures that can address them effectively. And according to the Minister,China Jerseys, some businesses cause and contribute to a range of children’s rights violation such as polluting the environment, paying young people to do dangerous jobs, trafficking in persons, as well as physical, mental and sexual abuse.A section of the gathering at the child’s right forum yesterday.Gaskin as a result extended a challenge that “Our gold and bauxite miners, our timber harvesters and processors, our quarries and businesses that support and surround these industries, must all begin to make meaningful contributions towards resolving some of these problems. Businesses must take individual responsibilities for their impact on children’s rights.”It is expected that yesterday’s conference will,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, in fact, pave the way for the Minister’s challenge to materialise. Minister Gaskin yesterday commended UNICEF to explore the issues that affect children. He also assured, “We at the Ministry will remain committed to encouraging best practices and respect for the laws of Guyana.”And this is particularly important since Guyana is a signatory to the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child. This, according to Chairperson of the Rights of the Child Commission, Ms. Aleema Nasir, is incorporated into the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic Guyana and implores, mandates and entrusts the state apparatus, the private sector, civil society and other relevant stakeholders with the responsibility of fashioning a societal culture and structure beneficial to the best interest of Guyana’s children.Nasir disclosed that the Commission has been working in close collaboration with UNICEF to realise the fulfilment of the rights of children.According to UNICEF Representative, Ms. Marianne Flach, while there have been much advancement with regards to human rights and business,Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic, there is still a great deal to be done to holistically address child’s rights in the extractive sector. In fact, she underscored that far too often children are overlooked as stakeholders of businesses even as she insisted that “children’s rights are part of human rights.”Flach in a detailed presentation considered that in 2015 alone over 3,000 cases of child abuse were reported in Guyana some of which,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, occurred in communities where some of the businesses under scrutiny operate.“Often we remain silent, not out of indifferent but because we simply do not know what to do or how to intervene,” related Flach. She added that according to the US State Department, Guyana is still on Tier Two of the Trafficking in Person list.“For our children this means that there is still a high vulnerability to exploitation, including for labour purposes and sex which can result in deep emotional pain and sometimes even death. We can no longer be silent on these issues,” said Flach as she appealed to the gathering at the forum to “be champion for children; preventing, speaking out and contributing to solutions to create positive change for our children.”Flach in her deliberation also noted because businesses are key actors in society,Wholesale China Jerseys, they are duty bound to uphold human rights and must be held accountable for their actions. Even as she made specific reference to the extractive sector, the UNICEF Representative not only stressed its importance to the development of Guyana, but also the need to engage those operating within its realm.It was against this background, Flach shared that the support of Simon Chorley of UNICEF Canada was solicited. Chorley, Flach disclosed, has extensive experience engaging companies in the extractive sector. And according to her,Wholesale China Jerseys, “We hope that engaging extractive businesses, the communities in which they operate and all stakeholders will provide opportunities for Guyana to document and share where good practices exist and to identify and address gaps thus creating a more enabling environment for the protection of children…”Chorley disclosed that Canada is home to 57 per cent of the world’s mining company with over 8,000 sites across six continents in over 100 countries,NFL Jerseys Authentic China, including Guyana (Guyana Goldfields Inc.).And according to Chorley, Canada has been working with countries around the world to realise sustainable futures as it relates to economic growth and protection of children. “Children make up a third of the world population and in Guyana that is even higher…they are our future employees, they are our future leaders; they are our future national leaders. It makes sense for all of us to consider children,” Chorley insisted.Also delivering remarks yesterday was High Commissioner of Canada, Mr. Pierre Giroux who disclosed that upholding human rights is a Canadian value. He noted that the Government of Canada is extremely pleased to participate in, and support, the child’s right conference. Gioux disclosed yesterday that “we have learned from our own experience and this has shaped how we as Canadians do business overseas.“We realise that it is important to place high emphasis on our corporate social responsibility.”According to Giroux, in Guyana the High Commission has worked with stakeholders to develop a mining tool kit which could provide practical guidance on the mining process to companies, communities and other stakeholders.The day-long conference entailed a number of informed presentations on the importance of mining and its simultaneous negative impact on children and the steps that companies that can take to address this. |